The Portland daily press., 1887-08-30
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
PORTLAND THEATRE.

1t seemed pleasant last evening to see the
doors of this popular place of amusement
opened again after they had been SO long
closed, and still pleasanter to be comforta-
bly, seated in the pretty little theatre listen
ing to the bright dialogue and watching the
amusing situations of that admirable farce
comedy, "a Night or" as presented by
Observation-Disclosures skilled company. From
the opening to the closing scene of the play
there was not dull moment, and the laugh
ter and applause of the audience were con-
slant and hearty
The play is familiar to our theatre-goers
frsm its production last season. Mr.. Bar
tram as Professor Babbitt and Mr.. Bur-
bridge as Marcus Brutus Snap, give two
transformations that are thoroughly hu-
morous and well rounded in the presenta-
ton, while the other characters, ladies and
gentlemen, fit their several parts exceedingly
| well, and the play runs with that delightful
| smoothness that comes from actors who thor
oughly understand each other.
Grlmmer's orchestra rendered their yari-
Gus selections delightfully."-, as is their wont.
The new Boulanger March was quite feat
| ure OF the evening, and the selections from
| Ruddygore and Erminie were most accepta-
BILE: The new Chelsea Chimes polka caught
| on" at once.
The programme, which is issued by the
| Tucker Printing House, is very neatly
| printed and handsomely framed in colors
| The frontlspiece represents the proscenium
OF stage ana bears medallion of Shaks-
| peare.
"a Night Or will be repeated this eve
ming.
THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
Denman Thompson has always been
favorite in Portland and in his new play of
THE Old Homestead" he will pack Port
land Theatre Friday and Saturday nights
The sale of seats will begin tomorrow. In
his company is Clarence Richardson, "Our
Bobby" who appears as Lew Holbrook and
plays the fiddle, and calls the figures in the
way so well known to the people throughout
Cumberland county. Orders for tickets are
coming in from the country towns to be
filed Wednesday, one of twelve seats from
Cumberland alone. The new play is thus
spoken of by the New York Evening Post,
one of the most critical of New York jour-
mails: There is not in it anywhere a trace
OF effort or design. The humor bubbles ont
of him, like water from a spring, and is lust
as sweet and wholesome. The merriment
which he causes is genuine benefactiOn in
these days, when comedy is too often, but
another name for indecency and idiotic ex-
l
only absolutely free from ali faint of impuri-
| ty, but is the result of perfectly legitimate
methods. The character which he assumes
is copy from the life and is drawn with
mGS5 ar Idsh II FIDELITY 1t shows our old
few new ones, and is nothing but series of
episodes with the slightest possible thread of
connecting story. This tells how the old
farmer left his rural home to search for his
son in New York, how he found him a
drunken wreck, how he rescued him from
degradation and ruin, and carried him back
to the old country life of purity, simplicity.
and innocence. The story matters nothing ;
all q the interest centres now, as formerly,
In the figure OF the quaint old countryman,
and while he is upon the stage, which he is
nearly all the time, there is not q dull mo-
ment." Geo. A. Beane plays Cy Prime
Walter Gale, Happy Jack; J. L. Morgan, Ed
Ganzy; Walter LennoX, Sr., Henry Hop
kins; Gus Kammerlee, Judge Patterson
Mrs. Louisa Morse, Aunt Mathilda; Annie
thompson, Rlckety Ann, and the other
characters are well taken.
| NOTES
The DAILY Brothers will present their new
play Upside Down" at Portland Theatre
next week.
The Stockbridge course will contain three
lectures by John l.. Stoddard. Charles Dick
ems. Jr., son Of the novelist, author of ''All
the Year Round" will give reading from
his fathers works in the course.
/ appearance
at City Hall in Arcadia" are September 8,
and TO-
Emil Haberkorn, the husband of Margaret
Mather, has given up his orchestra leader
ship and has been appointed business mana
ger of his wife'S company.
| Ihere has been great competition among
the stage beauties to become She in the
4 spectacular production of that name soon to
be brought out in New York Lillian Russell
has been chosen to be the handsomest wom-
an in the world, as She is credited with be-
ing.
Louis James and Marie Wainwright have
increased their repertoire so that it now in
cludes ''Ingomar," "Virginius," Hamlet /"
Macbeth" and Gretchen"
Pauline Lucca has engaged to appear in
America next April, so the New York Times
says, receiving for ten performances $l5,-
| COO. -
Henry E. Abbeys stock company for Wal
lacks Theatre is extraordinarily strong. 1t
comprises Miss Rose Coghlan, Miss Florence
Gtrard, Miss Minnie Conway, Nine. Ponisi,
Mrs. Louisa Eldrich, Miss Kate Bartlett and
Mrs; Z. D. Ward, Mr.. Osmand Tearle, Mr..
Kyrle Bellew, Mr.. Charles Groves Mr.
Henry Dodsworth, Mr.. E. d. Ward, Mr..
Harry Edwards and Mr.. John Gilbert.
Sydney Grqndy's, Silver Shield" IN. p"
Birth, Home" and School" Mr.. Alb
hey wants comedy only ard short runs.
Mr.. Ed" Rice relates in the Chicago
Herald that when Herr Won Bulow, the
pianist was ia Boston playing in concerts,
| Napier Lothian, the musical director at the
Boston Theatre, introduced Rice, saying:
Herr Won Bulow, this is Mr.. Ed Rice, a
Boston man, who knows nothing about
music whatever. but who has written two
| operas" sop said Won Bulow, interrOga-
lively We hat also in Europe shentle-
| Verdi"